For most people their favorite time of the year is Christmas, New Years and birthdays.  I am, however, not most people.

The past two weeks was the Hollywood ceremony season, and I am addicted to the glitz and glamour of it all.  Tacky I know, but ooooh, I love it!

On Sunday night all the who’s who of Tinseltown dressed up with somewhere to go, and everything is beautiful, pressed and perfect.  The newspapers celebrate all the winners, complain about the losers and all the actors have their 45 second speech. 

Fast forward two days, and the glitter wears off and they start looking more and more like us.   The next member up pops a sound clip of a famous actor being verbally and physically abused by his partner.   Surely, this can not be true?!  This cannot happen in such a glitzy and glamorous family – or so we would like to believe.  How many times have we been (fake) shocked about the shenanigans of the rich and famous?

It takes me back to the countless times that people have walked into my office, battered, bruised and embarrassed to be there.  I am sure that they are thinking:  “I have no idea how this happened. How did I end up in this situation?  How do I get out?”  The marriage is abusive, the relationship degrading, and the biggest shocker of all:  no-one knows. 

And before I start sounding like a 12 step program, may I just say even after all this time, it is still heart-breaking for me every time I hear the story.   It is painful to see people suffer though these situations, but the important thing to remember is that you will get through?

Firstly, I need you to remember that you should and can tell me everything.   The information will be treated with the utmost respect and confidentiality and we will BE THERE!  Yes, you might need a bull-dog of an attorney, or you might need someone softer to guide you through.  We will handle that part and give you the best representation that suits your situation.

Everyone would want the world to believe that our homes, marriages and relationships is Hollywood ready – Glitz and Glamour and smiles all the way.  Unfortunately, this is not true for most. 

Speak up, and get the help you need.  Like my kids would say:  I’ve got your back!